Refrigerator car



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Filed Dec. 5, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ay 5, 1931., G. A. HULL l,804,29

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Dec. 5. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 5, ldt

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GEORGE HULL, Olli' CHICAGO, ILLIOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EQUIPMENT SPECIALTIES CO., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS nnrnrennaron can Application. led December 5, 1927. Serial No.i 237,638.

; cars to provide a false bottom, which encloses a plurality of layers of heat insulating material such as asbestos paper, ber,

fabric or the like, and a layer of plastic water proof compound for preventing water from seeping through the oor into the insulation. With vthe existing structures it has been necessary, however, to pierce this plastic water proof compound at a plurality or" points for the purpose of securing the car ooring in place above the compound and the presence of nails, bolts or other fastening means passing through the water proofing permits the water to seep through the compound into the fibrous insulation.

The eiiiciency ot the insulation is thus greatly reduced and this condition continues :tor long periods of time since these parts are enclosed and cannot dry out, and the inevitable result is the' rotting of timbers and the destruction orn the heat insulating quality of the floor. This matter is of particular importance in the shipment oi lettuce and other products where it has been found desirable to pile ice in the main portion of the car among the boxes in order to keep the product in the best condition. The

water resulting from the melting or' the ice placed in 'the main part of the ear seeps through the iooring and points of eroration of the lastic compound an is the cause of the diiiculties previously described.

@ne oi the objects of the present invention is the elimination oi the foregoing difficulties and others by the provision of an imperiorate water prooi layer below the flooring and above the insulation of the reirigerator car.,

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a novel mode of support for the flooring of refrigerator cars whereby the flooring is carried by supporting members Awhich are securedto the car above the water line of any possible seepage.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel Hoor structure for rerigerator cars and the like which comprises a plurality of sections of wooden Hooring supported by channeled metal members and adapted to be assembled in units and received in a plurality of channeled metal guides supported by the car structure above the water line.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which similar characters .of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severa-l views.

Fig. l is a plan view of approximately one fourth of a car floor with the walls in cross section above the water line and parts of the car length out out toA shorten the view.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view talren on the line 3 3 or Fig. l completely across the car with similar portions or the car ont out to shorten the view.

Fig. d is a cross-sectional view of the licor Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on 'the line 5 5 of Fig. l in the ice chamber.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the oor supporting members, waiter roota layer and assembled structure.

1g. view talren on the line 7 7 of Fig. l through the bulkhead between the ice chamber and main compartment.

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. l of a modified form of )door structure in which the iiooring runs transverse to the length of the car.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the flooring support 'taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a plan view of one section of the flooring shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. ll is a cross-sectional view of the ilooring section showing one form of 'channeled members which may be employed.

Fig. 1Q is a plan view of a section of the flooring partially broken away to show the is an enlarged detail cross-sectional 73 structure taken at the door on the line d l of Fig. l.

arrangement of the staggered boltsl which bind the flooring and channeled members together.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Referring to Fig. 1, v indicates in its entirety a refrigerator car having an ice chamber 2l separated by a bulkhead 22 from a main compartment 23. As both sides of the car are substantially the same, only one half of the width of the car is shown and as the opposite end of the car is also substantially the same, only one half ofthe length of the car is shown. In Fig. 1, however, the illustration extends to the opposite side of the door 24 and the Figure is fore-shortened by removing or cutting out similar portions of the length of the car as at 25, 26, and 27. The opposite end of the car is provided with a similar ice chamber 21 and the opposite side with a similar door 24.

The refrigerator car may be provided with a supporting structure consisting of a plurality of heavy sills 28 and 29 extending longitudinally ofthe car and forming the outer frame members for the floor support. The floor may also ,be provided with a plurality of intermediate longitudinal sills 30 sullicieut in number to support the floor between the sills or beams 28 and 29, and the sills 28, 29 and 30 may be joined by cross sills 31 at the'end of the floor frame and such intermediate points as are necessary.

lVhile this frame structure is illustrated in the form of heavy lumber, 1 desire it to be understood that the exact structure of the framework may be varied while still gaining many of the advantages of my floor structu-re.

The car framework may be provided with the usual corner posts 32 of heavy timber, rabbeted as at 33 to support an intermediate wall 34, and the floor frame may also carry the usual door posts 35 and intermediate studs 36 in such number as will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

The bulkhead 22 may be carried by a transverse post bearing rail 37 and the bulkhead 22 between the ice chamber 21 and main compartment 23 may be substantially as illustrated in my Patent No. 1,690,412, dated November 6, 1928, on grate construction for ice compartments of refrigerator cars.

The ice compartment 21 may be provided with an auxiliary frame member 38 carried by the cross sills 31 and with an interior -wall 39 forming a hollow space 4() which may be lled with heat insulating material. The floor of the ice compartment 21 is preferably formed lower than that of the main compartment in order to facilitate drainage and the interior of the ice compartment is preferably lined with sheet metal as at 41 having upwardly extending flanges 42 welded or otherwise secured together at the corners so as to form a water tight box which is drained only by the usual water trap.

The walls of the ice compartment on three sides are preferably also covered with sheet metal 43 having its lower edge overlying the flanges 42 of the iioor lining so as to provide a substantially water tight lining for the ice compartment to protect the wooden framework, walls and insulation of the car from moisture.

The sills or beams 28, 29 and 30 may be provided with auxiliary frame members 44 extending lengthwise of said beams and secured to the sides thereof by bolts or other convenient fastening means for providing a support for a false flooring or enclosure 45 carried above said frame members. The sills or beams 28, 29 and 30'may also be provided with an intermediate flooring 46 consisting of a plurality of strips of beveled edge lumber extending transversely to said beams and secured thereto side by side to form a continuous intermediate flooring. rlhe beveled edge lumber permits the formation of a very tight intermediate flooring, the joints being drawn together by nails or other fastening means driven through the beveled edges of each adjoining board.

It will thus be observed that by means of the false fioorin 45 and intermediate iloor ing 46 there is ormed a chamber 47 which may be employed for the reception of a plurality of layers of heat insulating material 48 consisting of sheets formed of rovings of asbestos fiber secured together by strands of asbestos-and covered with sheets of asbestos fabric as described in application Serial No. 160,697 tiled January 12, 1927, by William R. Gillies on sheet insulation. The sheets of insulating material may lie upon the false flooring 45 being secured at their edges and such intermediate points as desired by strips of lumber 49 compressing and pinching the edges of the insulation and secured to the beams or sills 28, 29 and 30 by nails or other thus provided with a section of heat insulating material consisting of the asbestos fabric 48 and the wooden beams or sills between the fabric which are also of considerable thickness and heat insulating property.

The walls of the refrigerator car may be formed by securing an intermediate wall 50 of lumber to the studs 36, doorposts 35 and corner posts 32 completely enclosing the outside ofthe car, and the intermediate wall 5() may be coveledion the outside by a layer 51 of the same sheet insulating material secured in place at its edges by strips 52 of lumber compressing the insulation against the sill or other frame member and secured thereto by nails driven through the strip and insulation. At the lower edge the sills 28 and 29 may be rabbeted as at 53 to receive the strip Cil 52 and insulation. The car may be covered over all by an exterior wall 54 of lumber enclosing and protecting the insulation 5ll from the weather. It' desired, la eis ot water proof paper may be included etween the insulation 51 and outer Wall 54.

The corner posts, studs and door posts may likewise support an inside intermediate wall 34 consisting of boards secured by nails or other convenient `fastening means to said frame members and covering the same from the flooring 46 upward. The walls may also be provided with an inner layer of the same heat insulating fabric 55 secured to the wall 34 by a wide board or strip of lumber 56 compressing the lower edge of said insulating fabric against the wall 34 and securing the same thereto by nails or other convenient fastening means. The boards 56 not only secure the insulation in place but they provide a. backing for the walls of thecar for receiving an imperforate la er of plastic water proof compound 57. Tie insulation 51 andV 55 is of course secured at its upper edges and intermediate points by similar strips of lumber and theinsulation is preferably formed in a continuous sheet extending around the walls of the car without joints except where necessary, as at the door posts.

' The water proof compound 57 may consist of any water proof, initially plastic com? pound, such as a compound having asphalt or petroleum tar for its base, and a continuous imperforate and impervious layer of thev compound is preferably formed on the floor v 46 and extending upward' on both sides of' the car to the top of the board 56. At the post bearing rail 37 the layer of compound. 57 may overlie a sheet metal plate 58 having a Wide flange 59 lying upon'the Hoor 46, an upwardly extending iiange 60, a beveled flange 61, a downwardly'extending Harige 62, and a second A wide flange 63. The sheet metal plate 58 is thus adapted to fit over the post bearingrail and extend underneath thepla stic compound in the main compartment as well as in the ice chamber.'

rlhe iioor ofthe ice chamber 21 may rest upon the iiooring 45 which is extended underneath the post bearing rail 37 and secured beneath the frame member 38 as well as to the beams 28, 29 and 30. Above the floor. 45 in the ice chamber there may be a plurality of layers 64 of the heat insulating fabric previously referred to, enclosed by a false flooring 65 above and protected by a similar layer of plastic compound 66. Above the plastic compound 66 is the box-like sheet metal lining of the ice chamber entirely covering the floor and having the lianges 42 projecting Vupward around all four sides underneath the overhanging flanges 67 of the metal lining 43 on the side walls of the ice chamber.

a sheet metal apron 68 adapted to'overlie the adjacent sections of car flooring 69 further to be described andl also covering the post bearing rail and having a downwardly ex'- tending flange 68 overlying the lange 42 on that side ofJ the ice chamber floor lining. The bulkhead 22 rests upon the apron 68 and this bulkhead may be secured to the post bearing railby a plurality of bolts 71. lf desired, the bolts 71 may be eliminated and the base 72 of the bulkhead 22 maybe secured `at eitherside of the car above the water line.

Above the plastic compound 57 the refrigerator car is provided in its main compartment with a' plurality of sections of iooring 69 which are carried by a plurality of channeled members having their points of attachment to the car from above the water line inside the main compartment. A strip of building paper 57a may be inserted between the channeled members 70 and the plastic compound 57 to protect the plastic compound. The sections 69 may consist oi' a plurality of boards 73 and tongue and groove, flooring which may be secured together edge to edge by a plurality of bolts passing through said boards edgewise and binding them together, if it is desired to remove the boards in sections as in Fig. 12. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, no bolts are used, and many of the advantages ot' the invention may be realized without using such bolts. Each section of flooring thus formed may be of sulicient length to cover the space between adjacent studs 36 or between alternate studs and the ends of the boards may be rabbeted as at 74 on each side, providing a narrow edge 75 adapted to be received in the channel of a metal supporting member 70 extending transversely to the flooring.

The channelled supporting members 70 are preferably rolled steel H beams having a` flat upper flange 76, a fiat lower flange 7 i and a connecting web 78. At each end of the H beams the web 78 may be removed and either or both flanges bent up to extend substantially above the water line of the car.I

In the enibodinibent shown in Fig'. 6,*the lower flange 77 is merely bent up to present a smooth end for the supporting member as at 79 While the upper flange 76 is bent up as at 80 and provided with a pair of apertures 82 adjacent its top end for use in attachment to the side walls or studs of the cai' by means of a plurality of bolts 83. The opposite ends of the supporting members 70 vare similarly formed and attached to the opposite side of the car and when the boards 73 have their ends received in the channels of the H beam, the upper flange 76 as well as the lower iiange 77 lies Hush with the outer surface of the boards 73. Suiiicient boards 7 3 are provided to extend wholly across the car floor in the main compartment, the outer boards having tongue and groove removed, and sufficient of the sections are provided to completely floor the inside of the main compartment.

It willthus be observed that my refrigerator car is provided with a ooring adapted to be supported by a plurality of channeled members from the car frame at points substantially above the water line in they main compartment, and the water proof layer 57 may be ke t entirely imperforate since no nails or ot er fastening means are 'driven through the compound to secure the flooring.

At the doors 24 the intermediate floor 46 may extend out over the beams or sills 28 and 29 and the plastic compound 57 may likewise extend out to the edge of the door. The channeled members are not provided with upwardly extending flanges at the doors but the channeled member may be beveled from its lower edge at a point 83- up through the web to a point 84, the upper flange being cut olf straight as at 85 to form a rabbet for the reception of the threshold plate 86 of sheet metal. The adjacent floor boards 87 and 88 may be similarly rabbeted and beveled and the boards may be covered by an outside threshold plate 89 having a depending apron 90 adapted to cover and protect the car wall below the door opening. The inside of the car walls may be provided with an inside layer of siding 91 covering the flanges 80 of the channeled supporting members and protecting that portion of the plastic compound which extends above the flooring 73. The siding 91 may completely cover the car walls, enclosing and protecting the sheet insulation 55.

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the channeled member 70 employed adjacent the post bearing rail 37 is substantially of U shape since a channel is required only on one side and this member may be substantially formed like one half of the other channel members 70 having a similar upwardly extending flange 80. For the purpose of standardization of parts an H beam may likewise be employed here if desired.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 13, the flooring is arranged to run crosswise of the car instead of lengthwise as inthe preceding embodiment. In this embodiment a plurality of boards 92 of flooring are se- I' Acured edge to edge by a plurality of long bolts 93v passing edgewise through said boards. The outermost boards 92 preferably have their upper and lower corners rabbeted as at 94 to receive the side flanges 95 of a U shaped metal supporting member 98 and the bolts 93 pass through both the boards and the supporting members binding the whole together. In order to provide space for the heads 96 and nuts 97 ot the bolts which project from these sections of'looring, the bolts are preferably staggered in adjacent sections as shown in Fig. 12 and the adjacent section is provided with recesses 97 in both the channeled members 98 and the edges of the boards 92. The edges of each floor section are thus provided with staggered recesses 97 located to receive projecting bolts on adjacent floor Sections so that the- U shaped channeled members 98 may be placed flatl against each other forming a continuous ooring.

The U shaped channels 98 may likewise be provided with upwardly extending flanges 99 secured by a plurality of bolts 100 to the studs or other framework of the car substantially above the water line in the main compartment. For the purpose of providing additional strength to the floor sections, the ends ot the boards 92 may be rabbeted in a similar manner to that shown at 94 to receive a U shaped channeled member 101 for securing the ends in alignment. The channeled member 101 may be secured at each end to the channels 98 and it will thus be observed that the floor sections may be removed or installed as a complete unit. The balance of the structure of the car, underneath the looring and at each side, is the same in this embodiment as in the previous embodiment.

Referring to Fig. ll, I have here shown a modified form of Hoor section in which the bolts 93 extend transversely through the boards merely to the outside edge of the same. In this embodiment 'the channeled members 102 and 103 are of a dilerent shape, the channeled member 102 being of substantially M shape while the channeled member 103 has a complementary point 104 adapted to be received in the recess of the channeled member 102'to insure the alignment of these members. this embodiment recesses are not required in the channeled members for the heads and nuts of the bolts since. these bolts are concealed inside the channels, but the channeled members 102 and 103 are likewise provided with upwardly extending a-nges 99 at each end for securing the same to the car frame above the water line. In this embodiment the floor sections may likewise be reinforced with a U shaped channel fitting over the ends of the boards as at 101 and the floor sections may be removed as units, being secured together by the bolts 93 independently of the supporting channeled members. I desire it to be understood that all other details of the car and ice compartments may be made exactly as described in the preceding embodiment shown in full in Figs. 1 to 7.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a novel car flooring in which the layer of water proofing underneath the fioor may be maintained wholly imperforate and this layer is adapted to protect the insulainterior of the car. My ooringcons'ists of a plurality of sections which may be conveniently manufactured and installed as 'units and which may likewise be conveniently removed for renewal or repair of the water proof layer and these sections are supported entirely above the water line in the main compartment.

ile I have illustrated and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, many modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of thev invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: t

l. In a refrigerator c ar, the combination of a supporting frame with a layer of heatA insulating material carried by said frame, a waterproof layer supported above said insulating material, channeled guides carried by said supporting frame, and a plurality of sections of iioor'ing in said guides, said sections comprising a plurality of strips of lumber secured together at their edges.

2. Ina refrigerator car floor, the combination of a lurality of strips of oor'ing with a pair of channeled guide members for supporting said ooring, a supporting frame for said car, and upwardly extending metal straps on said channeled members for securing the same to said car frame.

3. In a refrigerator .car iioor, the combination of a plurality of strips of ooring with a pair of channeled guide members for supporting said ooring, a supporting frame for said car, upwardly extending metal straps on said channeled members for securing the same to said car frame, a false flooring below said strips, and a layer of plastic waterproof compound supported by said false flooring.

4. In a refrigerator car door, the combination of a plurality of strips of i'loorlng with a pair of channeled guide members for supporting said iioorin a supporting frame for said car, upwar ly extending metal straps on said channeled members for securing the same to said car frame, a false flooring below said strips, a layer of plastic waterproof compound supported by s aid false ooring, and a layer of heat insulating material protected by said waterproof compound.

5. In a refrigerator car Hoor, the com bination of a plurality of strips of door'ing with a pair of channeled guide membersfor supporting said flooring, a supporting frame for said car, upwardly extending metal straps on said channeled members 'for securing the same to said car frame a false flooring below said strips, a layer of plastic waterproof compound suipplorted by said false iooring,` a layer o eat insulating material protected by said waterproof compound, and an enclosure below said insu-A atin material.

6. n a refrigerator car, the combination of a supporting door, with a la er of plastic waterproof compound carried y said door and extending up about the walls of said car, and a car Hoor carried by a plurality of frame members suspended from the wall of said car.

7. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a supporting floor, with a layer of plastic waterproof compound carried by said floor and extending up about the walls of said car, a car floor carried by a ,plurality of frame members suspended from the Wall of said car, and a layer of heat insulating material` supported below said plastic compound. 8. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a frame structure for a car iioor, with a sub-ooring carried by said frame structure, a waterproof layer carried by said sub-Hooring and extending upward on the car walls, a car flooring comprising a layer of Wood supported above said waterproof layer and adapted to be drained by said waterproof layer, and a-n ice chamber having its ioor located below the waterproof layer to eHect drainage of said iiooring.

9. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a plurality of sills with layers of heat insulating material carried by said sills, an intermediate iiooring carried by said sills` an impeiforate waterproof layer carried by said intermediate flooring and extending upward on the walls of said car, supporting members cariied by the walls of said car above the Water line of said waterproof layer, and a car flooringcarried by said supportin members. I

l0. n a refrigerator car, the combination of a plurality of sills with an intermediate flooring carried by said sills, an imperforate waterprooflayer carried by said intermedr ate flooring and extending upward on the walls of said car, supporting members carried by lthe walls of said car above the water line of said waterproof layer, a car fiooring carried by said supporting members, and a layer of heat insulating material carried below said waterproof layer and protected thereby.

11. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a plurality of sills with layers of heat insulatin material carried by said sills, an intermediate iiooring carried by said sills, an imperforate waterproof layer carried by said intermediate flooring and extending upward on the walls of said car, channeled toor .supporting members extending transverselyo said oar above said waterproof layer and secured to the Walls of lsaid car above the channels of said members and flooring carried by said channeled members.

12. u a refrigerator car, the combination of a plurality of sills with layers of heat insulating material carried by said sills, an intermediate flooring carried by said sills, an imperforate waterproof layer carried by said intermediate flooring and extending upward on the Walls ot said car, channeled floor supporting members extending transversely ot' said car above said waterproof layer, flanges carried by the ends of said channeled member, said flanges extending upward and being secured to the Walls of said car, and flooring supported by said channeled members above said Waterproof layer.

18. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a plurality of sills with layers of heat insulating material carried by said sills, an intermediate liooring carried by said sills, an imperforate Waterproof layer carried by said intermediate flooring and extending upward on the Walls of said car, channeled floor supporting members extending transversely of said car above said Waterproot` layer, langes carried b the ends of said channeled member, sai flanges extending upward and being secured to the walls of said car, flooring supported by said channeled members above said Waterproof layer, a bulkhead in said car forming an ice chamber, said ice chamber having a floor lower than said car flooring, and a waterproof metal member connecting said Waterproof layer and said ice chamber for draining said car flooring past said bulkhead.

14.-. In a refrigerator car door, the coni.'- bination of a supporting frame with a layer of heat insulating material carried by said frame, a layer of false flooring carried by said frame, a Waterproof layer supported above said false flooring and extending upward on the walls of the ear above the Water line, said waterproof layer being adapted to protect the insulating material, and a substantially closed tongue and groove car looring carried by sald frame above sald water-k proof layer andhaving its points of support above the Water line of said waterproot1 layer.

gether and supported from the walls ofv said car.

70 In witness whereof, I hereunto subscrlbe any name this 29th day of Nov., 1927.

GEORGE A. HULL.

15. In a refrigerator car floor, the combination of a supporting frame with a layer of heat insulating material carried by said frame, a layer of false iiooring carried by said frame, a Waterproof layer supported above said false ooring and extending upward on the Walls of the car above the Water line, said waterproof layer being adapted to protect the insulating material, and a substantially closed tongue and groove car flooring carried by said frame above said Awaterproof layer and having its points of 

